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PM’s in/out EU speech ‘naive and confused’

DAVID Cameron has been accused of ‘confusion and naivety’ by MEPs after his speech on Britain’s future relationship with the European Union.

Speaking in London on Wednesday, the Prime Minister and Witney MP said he wanted to see reform of the EU, and planned to hold an in/out referendum on the issue of membership.

He also said he wanted Britain to remain in the EU when he was pressed for a yes or no answer on the subject by Labour leader Ed Miliband during Prime Ministers’ Questions.

The speech sparked a mixed reaction from the South East’s MEPs.

Oxford-based Lib Dem MEP Catherine Bearder said: “David Cameron’s speech was plagued with confusion. Confusion over who it was aimed at and confusion over what he really wants to achieve.

“His increasingly desperate pledge to push for a positive vision for the EU is at odds with his attempt to appease chunks of his own party.

“Mr Cameron has doffed his cap to the right wing nationalists in the Tory party, whose real agenda is an immediate exit, and simultaneously put British growth, jobs and investment at risk.

“He pledges to work with the EU to fight terrorism and crime, then decides he wants to repatriate justice powers from Brussels. Businesses are confused, our EU partners are confused and, no doubt, the voter is confused.”

“Whilst flexibility sounds great and was probably dreamed up by the Prime Minister whilst sitting in his slippers in Chequers, there is a different reality in Brussels. I can assure the Prime Minister that there is no such thing as flexibility when it comes to the EU’s objective: a deeper federal Europe where member states’ sovereignty becomes an anachronism. His speech therefore was naive. The train is on a one-way track.”

Green MEP Keith Taylor, wants continued membership of the EU, but supports plans for a referendum and reform.

He said: “The fight for a radically reformed European Union is now on. I will be campaigning strongly for the UK to remain part of the EU but absolutely against business as usual.”

He added: “Over the coming weeks, months and years I’ll be making a case for Britain’s continued membership of a radically reformed, truly democratic European Union that improves the lives of people in the UK and the continent.”

Comments

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The British people should be given a vote now, we have had enough
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The British people should be given a vote now, we have had enough

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Score: 2

Lord Palmerstone
5:21am Sat 26 Jan 13

Oxford-based Lib Dem MEP Catherine Bearder . Who? Any reader ever heard of this person?
Hey, the great news is that in 10 years time no one will even remember the Liberal Social Democrat Party. Hooray!

Oxford-based Lib Dem MEP Catherine Bearder . Who? Any reader ever heard of this person?
Hey, the great news is that in 10 years time no one will even remember the Liberal Social Democrat Party. Hooray!Lord Palmerstone

Oxford-based Lib Dem MEP Catherine Bearder . Who? Any reader ever heard of this person?
Hey, the great news is that in 10 years time no one will even remember the Liberal Social Democrat Party. Hooray!

Score: 2

Englishman
9:11am Sat 26 Jan 13

Two things here. We originally joined the Common Market as a trading partner only. Not to be ruled and have our laws dictated by them. Second, Cameron promised us a vote if he was elected but as soon as he was voted PM he went back on his word. Typical delaying tactics. Now he is trying it again. Don't be foolish enough to believe him again this time. Its about time Politicians of ALL parties stopped worrying about their own interests and put the electorate and more importantly this Country first. Everyone cannot sit in offices looking at computers, we need industry to get the masses back in work.

Two things here. We originally joined the Common Market as a trading partner only. Not to be ruled and have our laws dictated by them. Second, Cameron promised us a vote if he was elected but as soon as he was voted PM he went back on his word. Typical delaying tactics. Now he is trying it again. Don't be foolish enough to believe him again this time. Its about time Politicians of ALL parties stopped worrying about their own interests and put the electorate and more importantly this Country first. Everyone cannot sit in offices looking at computers, we need industry to get the masses back in work.Englishman

Two things here. We originally joined the Common Market as a trading partner only. Not to be ruled and have our laws dictated by them. Second, Cameron promised us a vote if he was elected but as soon as he was voted PM he went back on his word. Typical delaying tactics. Now he is trying it again. Don't be foolish enough to believe him again this time. Its about time Politicians of ALL parties stopped worrying about their own interests and put the electorate and more importantly this Country first. Everyone cannot sit in offices looking at computers, we need industry to get the masses back in work.

Score: 6

[deleted]
2:54pm Sat 26 Jan 13

[deleted]

Well said Marta Andreasen. You are one of the best MEPs we have got. Catherine Bearder is simply not telling the truth when she claims that leaving the EU would put British businesses and growth at risk. What growth have we got? The whole EU is in deep economic slump with austerity, mass unemployment, riots and she talks about jobs. Yes one job would be at risk - Ms Bearder's! She has got her eye firmly fixed on that.
I have come across her before and Ms Bearder has no respect at all for people's moral and religious freedom.
http://juliagasper.b
logspot.co.uk/2013/0
1/cameron-repeats-sa
me-old-lies.htmlTiger1ily

Well said Marta Andreasen. You are one of the best MEPs we have got. Catherine Bearder is simply not telling the truth when she claims that leaving the EU would put British businesses and growth at risk. What growth have we got? The whole EU is in deep economic slump with austerity, mass unemployment, riots and she talks about jobs. Yes one job would be at risk - Ms Bearder's! She has got her eye firmly fixed on that.
I have come across her before and Ms Bearder has no respect at all for people's moral and religious freedom.

Sign this petition to restrict Bulgarian and Romanians from entering the UK:

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s/41492

Sign this petition to allow UKIP to take part in the 2015 TV election debates:

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I agree we should have the vote now but, signing the petition will be a waste of time, there is nothing they can do to stop them coming. At the same time Croatia joins so our welfare, NHS and housing are going to get battered, I would include JOBS in that but, they are already well and truly battered!

[quote][p][bold]supercool[/bold] wrote:
The British people should be given a vote now, we have had enough
Sign this petition to restrict Bulgarian and Romanians from entering the UK:
http://epetitions.di
rect.gov.uk/petition
s/41492
Sign this petition to allow UKIP to take part in the 2015 TV election debates:
http://epetitions.di
rect.gov.uk/petition
s/43153[/p][/quote]I agree we should have the vote now but, signing the petition will be a waste of time, there is nothing they can do to stop them coming. At the same time Croatia joins so our welfare, NHS and housing are going to get battered, I would include JOBS in that but, they are already well and truly battered!Rollo56

supercool wrote…

The British people should be given a vote now, we have had enough

Sign this petition to restrict Bulgarian and Romanians from entering the UK:

http://epetitions.di

rect.gov.uk/petition

s/41492

Sign this petition to allow UKIP to take part in the 2015 TV election debates:

http://epetitions.di

rect.gov.uk/petition

s/43153

I agree we should have the vote now but, signing the petition will be a waste of time, there is nothing they can do to stop them coming. At the same time Croatia joins so our welfare, NHS and housing are going to get battered, I would include JOBS in that but, they are already well and truly battered!

Score: 1

Lord Palmerstone
4:50pm Sat 23 Feb 13

And isn't Turkey, i.e. Georgia,Armenia,Iran Iraq and Syria (don't believe UKBA will have the foggiest notion their citizens aren't Turks - UKBA is totally useless) joining in 2016? Hoora hurray glorious day.
Anyone want to get out before that happens? Anyone want to stay in? Wake up Millipede, and stop dribbling.

And isn't Turkey, i.e. Georgia,Armenia,Iran Iraq and Syria (don't believe UKBA will have the foggiest notion their citizens aren't Turks - UKBA is totally useless) joining in 2016? Hoora hurray glorious day.
Anyone want to get out before that happens? Anyone want to stay in? Wake up Millipede, and stop dribbling.Lord Palmerstone

And isn't Turkey, i.e. Georgia,Armenia,Iran Iraq and Syria (don't believe UKBA will have the foggiest notion their citizens aren't Turks - UKBA is totally useless) joining in 2016? Hoora hurray glorious day.
Anyone want to get out before that happens? Anyone want to stay in? Wake up Millipede, and stop dribbling.

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